Control system



y 9. w. P. SIMPSON ET AL 2,325,432

CONTROL SYSTEM Filed July 21, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' H I 50 5 52 lump-n Imp-o M553? 4 64 50 /9 I 72 6a 3 a I t 68a 68b m 769 76 as u 55 mat-pa [lamp-u 70 V4000 move/w 0am;

Irwventors: Waldo E Simpson, Cyde E. Stewart,

Thelr Attorney.

July 27, 1943. w. P. SIMPSON ETAL 2,325,432

CONTROL SYSTEM Filed July 21, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IJ a E S n r Pw r J emu W0 mSSJfi EE 6 v as .m nhd e BIIQJ WC W q a. b /\N\ I SV F o o a II o co Qt a o o o a LL w: m3

Patented July 27, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL SYSTEM Waldo P. Simpson, Lansdowne, and Clyde E.

Stewart, Upper Darby, Pa assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application July 21, 1942, Serial No. 451,791

V 6 Claims. (Cl. 302-27) This invention relates to control systems, more particularly to systems for controlling material handling apparatus such for example as ash, siftings, and dust disposal systems, and it has for an object the provision of a simple, reliable, and improved control system of this character.

Still more particularly, the invention relates to material handling apparatus in which the material is first collected in hoppers from which the material is removed by vacuum and collected in a main bin. These hoppers are provided with valves leading to'a vacuum. line, and a more specific object of the'invention is the provision of a control system for sequentially opening and closingthese valves.

In carrying the invention into effect in one form thereof, a suitable operating mechanism is provided for the Valves of a plurality of hoppers, and a selector switching device is provided for controlling the valve operating mechanism, and this selector switching device is in turn controlled by a pressure operated switch in the vacuum line which responds to changes in the atmospheric pressure in the line, which are produced by the opening or closing. of preceding valves in'the sequence of operation. Each of the valves is provided with ports leading to the vacuum line and to atmosphere. When the ports are opened, the difierential pressure across the valve removes the material from the valve body as it piles in from the-hopper until the hopper is empty. An empty hopper produces a loss of vacuum in the line when the valve is open. Vacuum returns to the system when the valve is closed. These changes in pressure in the line are utilized to control the sequential opening and closing of the valves to provide for removal of the material from the hoppers to the main bin.

As anadditional feature, means are provided for interrupting the sequential operation of the valves when the main bin is being emptied.

For a better and more complete understanding of the invention, reference should now be had to the following specification and to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a simple,

diagrammatical illustration of an ash disposal Referring now to the drawings, a material such as dust, sittings, or ash is precipitated, by suitable precipitating means into collecting hoppers 50 to 6|, inclusive, which are suitably located and arranged in groups A, B, C, and D, as indicated in Fig. 1. When the hoppers are full, the material is removed from the hoppers by vacuum through the main vacuum line 62 and collected in a main bin comprising a vacuum tank 63. As shown, the hoppers 50 to 6|, inclusive, are provided respectively with valves 50a to 61a, inclusive, which feed into branch ash collectin lines 64, 65, 66, and 61 which in'turn feed into the main collecting line 62.

The valves of the groups A, B, C, and D are operated by cam shafts 68, 69, l0, and 'H, respectively, i. e., the valves of each group are operated one at a time by cam operation from a common shaft. In this connection, the cam shaft 68 is provided with a plurality of cams 83a, 68b, and 680 which are designed and mounted on the cam shaft 68 in such a manner as to effect sequential opening andclosing of the valves of the group A, in response to rotation of the cam shaft 68. Similarly, the cam shafts 69, 10, and H are provided with cams for operating the valves in the groups'B, C, and D.

. The shafts B8, 69, 1D, and H are operated by ratchet and pawl mechanisms l2, 13, M, and it upon successive movements of the pawls which, in turn, are operated by any suitable means, such for example, as the electrohydraulic operating devices 16, ll, 18, and 19. Each of these electrohydraulic operating devices comprises a piston immersed within a cylinder containing oil or other suitable fluid and connected by means of connecting rods to the pawls of the pawl and ratchetmechanisms l2, "l3, l4, and 15. Each of these hydraulic operating devices also has an impeller within the cylinder driven by an ole-c tric motor for producing a liquid pressure against the piston of sufficient magnitude to actuate the pawl to rotate the cam shaft.

I The motors which drive the impellers or the hydraulic operating devices are controlled by relays 16a, 11a, 18a, and 19a, which are connected through a multiconductor cable to a multiposition selector switch 8| which is mounted upon a control panel 82- lhe selector switch Si comprises six semicircular rows or banks 8m, 8w, Sic, Bid, file, and Slf of twenty-five contacts each, and six parallel but electrically separate wipers 3 lg, Slh, Sli, 3M, 8H0, and SlL on a shaft dim with a ratchet Wheel 83. The shaft 81m of the selector switch is actuated step by step by means of the ratchet wheel 83 and a notching relay 8-1 which is. provided with a pawl 84a that engages the ratchet wheel 83.

The operating coil of the notching relay 84 is of the valve body, through the discharge port into the vacuum line.

For the purpose of facilitating removal of the material from the hoppers, certain or all of the under the control or" a manually operated master switching device 85 and is also under the control of a vacuum relay 86 which is preferably a pressure responsive diaphragm typerelay provided with a movable member 8$ajwhichactuates a motor-lee snap action toggle contact mechanism 85b in.

response to movement of the diaphragm. timing relay 8? and an auxiliary timing relay 8%; controlled thereby are provided for contro'l ling the sequential operations of the selector switch 3!. a

. A switching devicefie is mounted in the main colleoting bin or vacuum tank .63. This switch ing device is provided with a pair of normally.

open contacts which'are closed in response to a predetermined level or weight of material in the anism, 9a which; opens the gate iii to empty the bin 53 into the loadingrhopper' z. operating mechanism S8 is; preferably in the form of an electrohydraulic operating i .device which is identical with thehydraulic operating "devices it, El, E8, and i9 described :in'the .iore, 1 going. The hydraulicoperatingdevice :53 is under the control of asuitable switching. device illustrated an electromagnetic contactor the. operating coil of which :turn is controlled by the contacts of the main bin switching .device '1 I V- Aspecial control relay 9d which is controlled auxiliary contacts 93a ofcontactor 93 serves to interrupt the sequencing operation of .the-sys tem While the -gate Ql iszopen and the main bin 63 is being cluImJed'into the loading hopperf ih For. the purposeof maintaining the gate ti open for the interval or time usually required iorthe main bin 53.130 dumpya time delay relay is provided; the time opening contaots' se of which control "the energizing circuitof contactor 93.

'An additional time clelayrelay 9'3 which has I The gate main bin '63 to control the gate operating meche nected by means of a connecting rod m2. "Fig, 1, onlyithe hoppers to hoppers may be provided with motor driven vibrating devices for agitating the material when the valves are open. As illustrated'in Fig. 4:, each of these vibrating devices comprises a separator'made of a suitable material such as sheet metal and flexibly mounted in'the hopper. This separator is reciprocated through a suitable am- Vacuum of the desired ma gmtude may beproduced in the vacuum tanli 63 and the vacuum line $2 leading thereto by anyv suitable means. Preferably, this vacuum producing unit will come I prise a ring of water nozzles fed from. acircular header and discharging into a Venturi throat the entrance t which is connected through a coupling'flfie to the vacuum tank 83. Power for a time delay in the open-ingcf its contactstdc equal to or greater than the timerequired-for vacuum to return to 'the system after the gate 8! has been closed, is provided for controlling the relay -8 in such 'a'manner as to prevent the resumption of the sequencing operation of the pockets of thehoppers Eeto 6!, inclusive;- is illustrated in Fig. 3. "A -s indicated;-thevalve is provided with a discharge'port QT and an air inletport 98. The discharge portfil is conoperating the'electrohydraulic operating devices, fhe vibrator motors, and their controlling contactors, is derived from a suitable source of alternating voltage represented by the two supply lines 'li lifDirect current control power for the operatiozrof the sequencing and timing relays and the notching magnet'of the selector switch 81 is derived from the source. i it through a suitablefull wave rectifying device H511.

-With the foregoing understanding ofthe elements and their organization in thezcomplete .controlisystem, the operation of the system will readily be understood from the following detaileddescription: Assuming that'the hoppersare' full and thatjit is desired to empty'the hoppers, the =master control switch 85 is moved to'the start position in which it completes-an energizing. circuit for the operating coil of the notching relay fidr'ihis circuit is traced from the upper or positive side of the control power bus l ,l I through conductor. Ii 8, normally closed contacts. offnotching relay 8%, and-thence through the. wiper Elg which stands on the zero position a contact of the first bankof I stationary contacts of the selector switch 85, and thence through con 7 ductor H9, the closed contacts 87m of'the master system until vacuum has returned to the system.

. V The construction of the valves 59a to em, inelusive, which are attached tothe-b'ottoms of the neoted to a branch vacuum line which'in turn'is connected to the main'vacuum line 62. the valve'is clcsed,both ports a're sealed-and the V infiltration of air through the valve-to the dust pocket is prevented. 'Whena hopper is to be emptied, the air inlet and outlet ports of its associatedvalve are opened. 'Air enters the open inlet port and is pulled around and over the pile of material in the valve so as to carry the material, which-piles fromthe hopper into the bottom When switch 85,- conductor. E28, through the operating coil of notching relayed and thence by conductor [21 to the negative side oi they control power bus H1. In response to energization, the operating coil of the notching relay 8t draws the core of the relaydownward and thereby causes the pawl 84a to engage the next tooth of the ratchet wheel 83. Ratchet wheel, 83 is held by meansof' latch 83a. The downward movement of the armature opensthe normally closed contacts of the notching relay, thereby interrupting theenergizing circuit for the operating coil. The armature is're-, turn'edto its unattra.ctedposition' by means of the spring 8% and thereby causes pawl to notch ratchet wheel 83 onestep;

As a result of the actuation of the ratchet Wheel 83 by the notchi-ng relay 84; the wiperstig, 8th,

8Ii, 8U, 8Ilc, and 8IL are advanced one position and Wipers 8Ig, (Hi, 8 I10 engage contact I oftheir respective banks. In this position, an energizing circuit is completed for the operating coil of contactor 16a. This circuit extends from the. upper side of the supply sourc I I6 through the operating coil of contactor 16a to contact I on bank 8Ie of the selector switch, thence by conductors I22 and I23, normally closed interlock contacts 882) of relay 88, contacts 852) of master switch 85 to the lower side of source I I6. In responseto energization, contactor 16a closes its contacts toconnect the impeller driving motor of the electrohydraulic operating device 76 to the source IIB. As a result of its energization, the electrohy-- draulic operating device 16 notches the ratchet wheel I2 onestep thereby to cause the cam 68a to open the valve 59a to connect the hopper 58 to the branch vacuum line 64. Simultaneously, the operating coil for relay IIII is energized over a circuit extending from the upper supply line I I8 through the operating coil of relay I ID to the first stationary contact on bank BIc of the selector switch, then by the circuit previously traced to the lower supply line I I6; Relay I I responds to energization and closes its contacts to connect the motor I83 of the vibrator for hopper 59 to the supply source I I6 and as a result, the vibrator is set in motionto agitate the material within the hopper and thereby facilitate its movement through the valve 50a to the vacuum line.

little amount of vacuum in'the system is sufficient when the selector switch steps to position I, the movable contact 88b of the pressure switch 8% is in engagement with the stationary contact 85c thereby completing a circuit for the operating coil of time delay relay 81 which extends from the positive side of the control supply source I I? through conductor H3 and normally closed con tacts of the notching relay 84 through wiper Elg erating coil of the auxiliary time delay relay 813 to the source I I7.' After a predetermined interval of time, relay 8B closes its normally open contacts 88a to connect the operating coil of the notching relay 84 across the supply source Ill. The normally closed contact of n'otching relay 8 opens and interrupts the coil circuit of time delay relay 8'! which returns to its original position. The normally open contacts of relay 8? 'deenergize relay 88. The normally open contacts of relay 88 deenergize notching relay 84 thereby allowing pawl 85a to advance the wipers to position 22. Wiper Elk in moving oil the position I contact of bank Sic interrupts the energizing circuit for the operating coil of contactor 16a. In response to deenergization, contactor 16a drops out and disconnects the electrohydraulic operating device '56 from the source II 6, and the latter in returnin to its initial position, moves its pawl to the next position on the ratchet wheel I2.

As soon as hopper I is empty, the selector able contact member 852) from stationary contact Cir 850 to stationary contact 86d to complete an energizing circuit for the operating coil of notching relay 84. This circuit extends from the positive side of the source Ill through the normally closed contacts of notching relay t4, wiper 8| g, and contact 2 on the first bank of the selector switch, thence by conductor I25 and contacts d of the master switch, contacts 86d and 86b of the vacuum switch, conductor I21, and contacts 850 of the master switch, conductor I28, contact Sta,v and operating coil of time delay relay 87 to the negative side of supply source iI'i. As a result, relays 8'1 and 88 pick up and connect the operating coil of notching relay 84 to the source I I! in the manner described in the foregoing. As before, the notching relay 8-1 advances the ratchet wheel 83 one step and moves the Wipers of the selector switch from position 2 to position 3, and as before, relays 81, 88 and notching relay 84 are restored to their original positions.

On reaching position 3, contactor 78a is again energized over the circuit previously traced except that it passes through stationary contact 3 instead of stationary contact I on bank 8Ie of the selector switch. The electrohydraulic operating device 76 is again energized and the cam shaft $8 is notched one step to close the valve 53a and open the valve 5 id of hopper 5%.

Before the selector switch can advance to point i, vacuum must return to the system, and this should occur within a brief interval following the closing of valve 56a. The sequence described in the foregoing continues until all the valves of group A have been opened and closed.

When the selector switch steps to point 9, contactor "Ila is energized and closed to connect the motor of electrohydraulic operating device 11 to the supply source IIS. In response to energization, the electrohydraulic operating device I! notches the ratchet wheel '33 one step and actuates the cam shaft 69 to open the valve 53a of hopper of group B.

This sequential operation continues until the wipers oi the selector switch reach the zero position at which point the notching operation of the selector switch is discontinued owing to the open circuit on the zero position of the first bank 8| a.

As previously pointed out, the control system is so interlocked that when the main collector bin is being dumped, the sequencing operation of the control system will be interrupted in order to prevent the skipping of a hopper as a result of operation of the vacuum switch 86 in response to a loss of vacuum in the main line by the opening of the gate 9|. When the material which is being collected in the main collecting bin 63 reaches a predetermined level, the contacts of switching device 8:! are closed to connect the operating coil of contactor 53 to the source H6. Responsively to energization, contactor 93 closes its three upper main contacts to connect the driving motor of the electrohydraulic operating mech anism 90 to the supply source ISii and simultaneously opens its normally closed contacts 93h and closes its normally open contacts 93a and 930.

As the material flows from the main bin 63 into the loading bin 92, the level of the material in bin 63 will drop and allow the contacts 83 to open. However, the operating coil of the contactor 93 is maintained energized through the time delay opening contacts 95a of time delay relay 95 and the contacts 930 which together provide a circuit in parallel with the contacts 89.

The opening of contacts 937; interrupts the on ergizing circuit for the operating coil of time denotching relay 3%.

;lay relay which closes its contacts-93a without time .delay. Contacts 93a in closing complete an energizing circuit for thetoperating coil of.

relay 9d. 'This circuit is traced irom the lower side of the source H through operating coil of relay 9 5, normally closed upper interlock contacts of relay ti, contacts siiu-oificontactor 193 to the upper'side of the source Ht. In" response toenergization, relay 534 opens its-normally closed contacts Main the circuit of the operating coil or" time delay relay #3? and thereby'interrupts the sequencing operation of the system, and closes its normally open contacts 941) to complete a sealing-in circuit through the'contacts eta 0ftime delay relay 9 v Ihe closing-of contacts are completed an energizingcircui-t for the operating coilor" time delay relay 9%. As indicated on the 'drawings, this relay 7 has time opening contacts $50, and the timing oi the relay is such that contactsiltla; do not open until the normal time for the dumping of the bin hasexpired, At the expiration of this interval of time, the contacts 515a open toiinterrupt the sealing circuit for the operating coil ofcontactor 533 which in response'to deener gization opens its three upper main contacts and its auxiliary nor- 7 "mally opencontacts and closes its normally closed auxiliary contacts Asa result or this operation, the electrohydraulic operating mechanism as is disconnected fromthesource thereby deenergizing'the electrohydraulic operating device and cl'osingthe gate 9!. of contacts diio connects the operating coil of time delay relayed to the source H6. Following the closing of gate ill, vacuum begins to return to the system and aft r an interval of time sufficient for vacuum to return to the system under 7 normal operating conditions, the relay 9%; opens its contacts 85a to interrupt the sealing-in circuit for the operating coil of relay-Q 3. As a result of its deenergization, relay 9% drops out and closes its normally closed contacts Q-"la in the energizing circuit for the operating coil of the time delay relay 'il'ithereby to provide for resumption of the sequencing-operation of the system.

If the wiper dig onb'anl: cm of the selector switch steps to one of the oddnumbered positions of the bank on which presence of vacuum in the system is required to cause the selector switch to step to the next point, there'is a possibility that the selector'switchwill stop on-this'position ii the hopperv which corresponds'to this particular position is empty, since vacuum cannot be built up in a system with'the valve open to an empty hoppen' For the purpose of providing means for continuing the sequential operation, under such conditions, an additional pair of normally open contacts 352 in the master switch is connected between the odd numbered stationary contacts or" the first bank and the operating coil of the to an o'dd numbered position, the corresponding hopper ofwhich is empty, vacuum cannot be The closing 7 claims;

:odd numbered stationary contacts, and thence by conductor 129 to and through contacts 85c, conductor J23, operating coil of notching relay 8:3 and conductor Hi to the negative side of supply source H7. As a result, the notching relay 84 is energized and advances the wipers of the selector switch to-the next'position from which the previously 7 described sequential operation continues in the normal manner. a

'Althoughin accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes this invention is described as mode in which it is now contemplated applying that principle, it will be understood thatth'e apparatus shown anddescri'bed is merely illustrative andthat the inventionjis. not limited thereto, since alterations-and modifications will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art without'departingj from the true spirit of this invention or from the scope of the annexed What we claim asnew and desire to secure'by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1'. A material handling system comprising in combination, a plurality of material containers, a

,7 common discharge'con duit for said containers,

means for producing subatmosphericpress'ures in said conduit, a separate valve for each of said containers for completing-and interrupting connections from said containers to, atmosphere and to said conduit, :a selector switching device having a plurality of operating positions, means re? sponsive to changes in atmospheric pressure in said conduit for successively actuating said selector switching device to said operating positions, and means responsive to. operation Qisaid switching device to said positions for successively opening and. closing said'valvesn material handling control system comprising in combination, a plurality of 'material containers, acomr'non discharge conduit for said containers, a separate valve for eachffoi said containers for connecting said containers to said conduit and to atmosphere, 'nieansior producing subatmosphericpressures in said conduit,a se- I 'jlector switching' device having a plurality oioperatingpo'sitions, a starting control device for setting said selector switching device in opera-ton,

' operating positions for successively openingand closing said valvesQanda device cooperating'witn said selector switching device and responsive to a -subatmospheric pressure in said conduit for pactuating said selector switch to one of said Thus, ii the wiper 31 steps operating positions and responsive to atmospheric pressure in said conduit for ctuating said solector switch to a succeeding position. V

3. A control system for material handling ap paratus andthe iike having 'a plurality of material containers, a common discharge conduit for said containers, means for producing suoatrnospheric pressures in said conduit, a separate valve 101 each or" said containers ior completing and interrupting communicatio-nirom said containers toatmosphere and to said conduit, a plurality of vibrator units for agitating the material in said containers, a selector switching device having an off position anda'pluralitysoi operating positions, means responsive to changes in atmospheric pressure insaidcon'duit for-successivelyactuating said switching device to said operating. positions, and means responsive to operation of said switching device to said positions for successively open- '1 closing said valves and simultaneously ing and deenergizing said vibrator units. control system for material handling apparatus and the like having a plurality of material containers, a common discharge conduit for said containers, means for producing subatmosphericpressures in said conduit, a separate valve for each of said containers for completing and inte rupting communication from said containers to atmosphere and to said conduit, a material collector in said conduit provided with a discharge passage, a selector switch having an off position and a plurality of operatingpositions, means responsive to changes in atmospheric pressure in said conduit for successively actuating said switching device to said operating positions, means responsive to operation of said seector switch to said operating positions for sequentially opening and closing said valves, means responsive to a predetermined amount of material in said collector for opening said discharge passage, and means responsive to theopening of said discharge passage for interrupting the sequential operation of said valves.

5. A control system for material handling apparatus having a plurality of material containers, a common discharge conduit for said containers, mean for producing a substantial vacuum in said conduit, a separate valve for each of said containers for completing and interrupting communication from said containers to atmosphere and to said conduit and a material collector connected in said conduit and provided with a discharge opening comprising in combination, a selector switch having an off position and a plurality of operating positions, means responsive to pressure changes in said conduit for successively actuating said selector switch to said operating positions, mean responsive to operation of said selector switch to said operating positions for sequentiall openin and closing said valves, means responsive to a predetermined amount of material in said collector for opening said discharge passage to empty said collector, a time element means responsive to the opening of said discharge passage for maintaining said discharge passage open for a predetermined interval of time and for closing said passage at expiration of said time interval, means responsive to the oper ation of said discharge opening, means for inter rupting the sequential operation of valves, and a second time element device responsive to the operation of said first time element device for resuming the sequential operation of said valve operatin means after the interval of time required for the restoration of vacuum in said conduit following the closing of said passage.

6. A control system for material handling apparatus having a plurality of material containers, a common discharge conduit for said containers, means for producing a substantial vacuum in said conduit, a separate valve for each of said containers for completing and interrupting communication from said containers to atmosphere and to said conduit and a material collector connected in said condo and provided with a discharge opening comprising in combination, a selector switch having an off position and a plurality of operating positions, means responsive to pressure changes in said conduit for successively actuatin said selector switch to said operating positions, means responsive to operation of said selector switch to said operating positions for sequentially opening and closing said valves, a switching device operable in response to a predetermined amount of material in said collector and means controlled thereby for opening said discharge passage to empty said collector and for interrupting the sequential operation of said valves, and time element means set in operation by said switching device for closing said discharge passage at the end of the time interval required to empty said collector and to resume the sequential operation of said valves at the end of a second time interval required for vacuum to return to said conduit following the closing of said discharge passage.

WALDO P. SIMPSON. CLYDE E. STEWART, 

